Force-feed oiler



L. E. GODFRIAUX. I

FORCE FEED OILER- APPLICATION HLED FEB. 12'. 1921.

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

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L.. E. GODFRIAUX. rokcs FEED OILER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I2, 1921.

Patented Oct. 18

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LOUIS qonrnieux, or MADISON, wrsooivsriwessreivon QGI COMPANY, OE'MADISON, isconsin, A CORPORATION or WISCONSIN FORCE-FEED OILER.

Specification of LettersPatent. I

Patented Oct. 18, 1921.

Application filed February 12, 1921 Serial No. 444,346.

To (121 whom it may concern:

Be'i-t known that I, LOUIS E. GODFRIAUX,

a citizen of the United States, residing at lvia'dison, in the county of Dane, in the State Oi'lers, of which the following is a specification. 7 v

or lubricators, which are employed on a great variety of machines to force the lubricant, in properly regulated quantities, tothe various bearings and other parts of the machine which require oil Oilers of this type commonly consist of a suitable number of individual identicalpumping units mounted in :more or less close relation to each other and drawing the oilfrom a common tank or reservoir and forcing it thencethrough individual line pipes to the parts to be lubricated. I

One object of the present invention is to provide a force feed oiler of compact form and construction which, for a given number of pumping units, shall occupy a minimum of space.

Another object is to provide an oiler wherein each pumping unit may be individually and nicely adjusted, according to the obstruction or resistance in the delivery line, to supply just the required amount oi lubricant, in "constant and uniform quantity.

still further objectis to provide a force feed oiler which shall eliminate all check valves, with the uncertainties and imperfections in operation which frequently arise from the use ot' check-valves in high pressure oiling systems. c

Other objects are to provide, in a force feed-oiler, an improved construction by which the surplus oil may readily be bypassed and returned to the reservoir"; and an improved structure of pump proper employing a sleeve valve controlling the suction and deliveryports of the cylinder, and a tandem plunger operating in longitudinally spaced 'high and low pressure pump chambers.

7 Still otherobjeots and advantages of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, takenin connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein I have illustrated one practical and approved embodiment of the invention, and in whichhigure 1 is a side elevation of my improved oiler, with parts broken away and in section;

F g. 2 is a top plan view of the same;

F g. 3 is an enlarged vertical transverse section through the reservoir and one of the pumping units, showing the plunger at the limit of its suction stroke;

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3, but showing the plunger at the limit of its forcmg stroke; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional detail, on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1, showing a transmission mechan sm for the oiler, including means by whlch the transmission is automatically disconnected when the oiler shaft is operated by hand to prime the machine.

Referring to the drawingsdesignates a rectangular box or casing constituting the oil reservoir, and 11 is a lid or cover surmounting the same. In the lid or cover 11 is a filling nozzle 12 having a screen 18 and a cap 14.

Secured to the underside of the lid vll by screws 15 is a metal block 16, the lower portion of which is transversely bored to provide a plurality of parallel pump cylinders 17. In practice I have found it practicable to space these cylinders as close as fiveeighths-inches from center to center of two adjacent pumps, which enables a large gang of pumps to be assembled in a very small structure. Extending between the upper side of each cylinder and the top of the cylinderblock 16 is a vertical by-pass duct 18. Also extending upwardly from the upper side of the cylinder is a sight feed delivery duct 19 that communicates with a sight feed delivery pipe 20 extending upwardly through a slot 21 in the lid 11 and terminating in a goose-neck bend 22 by which the oil is delivered through the slot 21 into a sight feed well 23 drilled in the top of the cylinderblock 16. Connecting the bottom of the sight feed well 23 with the top of the cylinder 1? is an oil delivery duct 24. Beyond the duct 24 is a delivery duct 25 through which the oil passes upwardly, through a removable elbow 26, into a delivery pipe line 27,

through which latter it flows to the bearing or bearings to be oiled. Surmounting the several sight feed wells and their supply pipes is a glass cover 28 held in place by screws 29.

Slidablymounted in each cylinder 17 is a sleeve valve designated as an entirety by 30. This sleeve valve is longitudinally bored to provide a high pressure chamber 31, and, in rear thereof, a low pressure chamber 32 of larger diameter than the high pressure chamber 31. \Vithin the sleeve valve is a double plunger, consisting of a high pressure plunger 33 slidably fitting the high pressure chamber 31, and a low pressure plunger 34 slidably fitting the low pressure chamber 32. These two plungers, disposed tandem, preferably constitute a single integral structure, and in rear of the low pressure plunger 34 is a screw threaded stem or shank 35, projecting beyond the adjacent side wall of the cylinder block 16. In the upper side of the sleeve valve 30 is a by-pass port 36 that coiiperates with the by-pass duct 18, a low pressure delivery port 37 that cooperates with the low pressure delivery duct 19, and a high pressure suction and delivery port 38 that cotiperates alternatel with the sight feed well duct 24 and the hig 1 pressure delivery duct 25. In the side of the sleeve valve, in the vertical plane of the low pressure delivery port 37, is a suction port 39 that moves into and out of register with the cylinder port 40 of a suction pipe 41 extending downwardly nearly to the bottom of the oil reservoir 10. Each suction pipe 41 lies between two adjacent cylinders and at its upper end communicates through the ports 40 with both of said cylinders.

Extending lengthwise of the top of the cylinder block 16, between the series of bypass ducts 18 and the series of sightfeed wells 23 is a shallow groove or channel 42,

into which the surplus oil by-passed through the duct 18 overflows down the ends of the cylinder block back into the reservoir.

Referring next to the mechanism for actuating the sleeve valve and plunger of each pumping unit in properly timed relation, 43 designates the drive shaft of the oiler which, as shown in Fig. 1, extends through and lengthwise of the reservoir box 10 and is journaled in suitable bearings in the end walls of the latter, one end of said shaft being equipped with a hand crank 43 by which the oiler may be operated by hand to prime the machine before the latter is started. Fast on the shaft 43 are pairs of cams 44 and 45 corresponding in number to the number of pumping units, there being one pair of such cams for each vpumping unit. The cams 44 and 45 are located side by side, as shown, and the side edges of the cam 44 register, to the full extent of their length, with the side edges of the cam 45, but

the latter is of some greater length than the cam 44, thus having a reater throw than the latter to the extent 0 the difference in the lengths of their major axes. The lower side of the cylinder block 16, directly beneath each cylinder is transversely slotted as shown at 46 (Fig. 1), and slidably. mounted in these slots and supported upon underlying bars 47 secured to the bottom of the c linder block are a pair of slides 48 and 49 ying side by side. The slide 48 has a pair of depending limbs 50 that straddle the long cam 45, being spaced apart a distance just equal to the major axis of said cam. The other slide .49 has a similar pair of depending limbs 51 that straddle the short cam 44, being spaced apart a distance just equal to the major axis of the latter. On one end of the slide 48 is an upstanding lug 52 that enters a kerf formed in the lower side of a nut 53 threaded on the plunger shank 35. The lug 52 has a notch 54 embracing a pin 55 passed through the lower slotted side of the nut 53, whereby the slide 48 is drivingly connected to the plunger. Similarly, the other slide 49 has at the other end thereof an upstanding lug 56 that enters a slot in thecorresponding end of the sleeve valve 30 and is operatively connected to the latter by a cross-pin 57 passing through the end of the sleeve valve and a notch 58 in the upper end of the lug 56.

The threaded shank 35 of the plunger is formed with an axial slot 59'that is engaged by the flat shank 60 of an adjusting device 61 that is rotatably mounted in a side wall of the reservoir 10 and is formed with a screw-head 62 by which it may be turned by the application of an ordinary screw-driver.

The adjusting device is mounted with capacity for rotation and is locked in place by a plate 63 secured by screws 64 to the outer side of said side wall, said plate having.

a lower edge which fits into annular grooves 65 in the head of the adjusting device. On the outer end of the threaded shank 35 is a lock nut 66, which may conveniently be locked in place by having its sides indented into the edges of the slot 59.

WVhen the machine to which the oiler is applied is in operation, the oiler itself is driven from the machine from any suitable or convenient moving part of the latter. It is highly desirable, however, that these oilers be capable of hand operation, so as to prime the machine after the latter may have been standing idle for some time, and thus avoid possible injury. I have accordingly devised a simple transmission mechanism for driving the oiler from the machine which it serves, which transmission mechanism is capable of driving the oiler in both directions of rotation and can be automatically discon nected, or rendered inoperative, when the oiler shaft 43 is cranked by hand in either direction. This mechanism which is shown at the right of Fig. land in Fig. 5, comprises the following.

67 may indicate a shaft continuously driven by the machine to which the oiler is applied, on which shaft is a pinion 68 driving a gear 69 journaled in one of the end walls of the reservoir. Fast with the gear 69 is apinion 70 which meshes with and drives a gear. 71 rotatably mounted upon a journalbearing-block 72 of the oiler drive shaft 43. V In the face of the gear 71 are a pair of spaced pins 73, between which lies the tail of a reversible pawl 74. This pawl is pivotedat 75 to a rotatable disk 76 that is freely 'journaled on the shaft 43. The two noses of the pawl 74 cooperate with a reversible ratchet 77 fast on the oiler drive shaft 43. When the gear 71 is turned in either direction, the pawl 74 is rocked into driving engagement with the ratchet 77 by one of the pins 73. When, however, the shaft 43, is turned by the crank 43 in either direction, the ratchet 77 at once acts to throw the pawl 74 into'the neutral or non-driving position illustrated in Fig. 5, thus automatically rendering idle the normal or machine transmission when. the oiler is actuated by hand.

The operation of the device should be apparent from the foregoing description of its structural features and organization. Assuming that the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 4, which represents the endof the forcing stroke, as the cams 44 and 45 turn in. either direction the sleeve valve and plunger at 'first travel rearwardly together. and without any relativemovement until the port 38 passes from the delivery duct 25 into registry with the intake duct 24, and the ports 37 and 36 pass out of register with the ducts 19 and 18, respectively, and

the port 39Vregisters with the port 40. There.

upon further movement of the sleeve, valve ceases, but the plunger continues its rearward movement, sucking oil into the low pressure chamber 32. and also drawing oil from the sight feed well 23 down into the high pressure chamber 31. At this time the parts are in the positions shown in. Fig. 3. The sleeve valve and plunger then move forwardly simultaneously, carrying the sleeve valve back to the position shown in Fig. 4. Thereafter the plunger continues its forward'movement, the low pressure plunger 34, if it is behind. the port 36 at first sending some of the oil through the by-pass 18 and overflow 42, and the rest of the oil into the sight feed well, while the plunger 39 forces the oil drawn into the high pressure chamber 31 out through the line. The amount of oil returned to the reservoir through the by-pass depends upon the adjustment of the plunger relatively to the sleeve valve. The farther the plunger is drawn outwardly, the greater will be the amount of oil returned to the reservoir, and the less the amount delivered to the sight feed well.

By observation of the latter, the attendant is enabled to effect the right adjustment so as to maintain a proper supply of oil-according to the resistance offered by the line and other conditions. Conversely, by adjusting the plunger inwardly to a point where the low pressure plunger 34 does not uncover the port 36, no oil is by-passed and all of the oil pumped is passed through the sight feed well on to the line.

It is believed that the structural features, mode of operation, and advantages of my present. invention will be readily understood from the foregoing description and the illustration afforded by the drawings. Manifestly,'the apparatus may vbe considerably modified in respect of details without involving any departure from the principle thereof or sacrificing any of the advantages attained. Hence I reserve all such variations and modifications as fall within the spirit and purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a force feed oiler, the combination of an oil reservoir having a detachable cover, a gang of pumping units, including reciprocable sleeve valves and plungers, mounted on the under side of said cover, sleeve valve and plunger-actuating slides connected to said sleeve, valves and plungers respectively, a drive shaft journaled in opposite sides of said reservoir and'extending through the latter, and cams on said drive shaft in driving relation to said slides.

2. In a force feed oiler, the combination of an oil reservoir having a detachable cover, a cylinder block attached to the under side of said cover, said'cylinder block being bored to provide a plurality of parallel ported cylinders disposed side by side, sleeve valves in said cylinders each having high and low pressure chambers and ports cooperating with the ports of said cylinders, tandem plungers slidably mounted in said sleeve valves, sleeve Valve and plunger actuating slides mounted in said cylinder block, a drive shaft journaled in opposite sides of said reservoir and extending through the latter, and I cams on said drive shaft in driving relation to said slides.

3. In a force feed oiler, the combination of a cylinder having intake and discharge ports, a sleeve valve in said cylinder having ports cooperating with said cylinder ports, a plunger slidably mounted in said sleeve valve, means for reciprocating said sleeve valve, other means for reciprocating said plunger, and means for adjusting the position of said plunger lengthwise relatively to that of said sleeve valve.

4. In a force feed oiler, the combination of a cylinder having intake and discharge ports, a sleeve valve in said cylinder having high and low pressure chambers provided with ports coiiperating with said cylinder ports, tandem plungers slidably mounted in said high and low pressure chambers, means for reciprocating said sleeve valve, other means for reciprocating said plungers, and means for adjusting the position of said plungers lengthwise relatively to that of said sleeve valve.

In a force feed oiler, the combination of an oil reservoir, a cylinder mounted in said reservoir, a plunger in said cylinder, means "for reciprocating said plunger, and means operable from the exterior of said reservoir for adjusting the position of said plunger lengthwise relatively to said cylinder.

(3. In a force feed oiler, the combination of an oil reservoir, a plunger in said cylinder formed with. a screw-threaded shank projecting beyond one end of said cylinder, means for reciprocating said plunger, said means including a nut non-rotatable on said screw threaded shank, and means operable from the exterior of said reservoir for turning said shank in said nut, whereby to adjust the position of said plungcr lengthwise relatively to said cylinder.

7. In a force feed oiler, the combination oi. an oil reservoir, a cylinder mounted in said reservoir, a plunger in said cylinder formed with a screw-threaded and longitudinally slotted shank projecting beyond one end of said cylinder, means for reciprocating said plunger, said means including a nut non-rotatable on said screw-threaded shank, and a plunger-adjusting member rotatably mounted in a wall of said reservoir and formed with a squared portion slidably engaged with the slot of said plunger shank and an exterior head portion adapted to engage with a tool for turning the same.

8. In a force feed oiler, the combination of an oil tank having a removable lid, a cylinder mounted on the under side of said lid, a sleeve valve in said cylinder, a plunger in said sleeve valve, a drive shaft journaledin opposite sides of said tank below and transversely of said cylinder, a pair of cams mounted side by side on said shaft, said cams having major axes of different lengths, and a pair of slides mounted to reciprocate below said cylinder, said slides being coupled to said sleeve valve and plunger, respectively, and formed with depending limbs straddling said cams.

9. In a force feed oiler, the combination of a cylinder having a suction port, a sight feed well, a supply duct from said cylinder to said well, a delivery duct from said well to said. cylinder, a discharge duct from said cylinder to the oil distribution line, a sleeve valve slidably'mounted in said cylinder, said sleeve valve having high and'low pressure chambers, ports in said high and low pressure chambers respectively cooperating with said supply, delivery and discharge ducts of the cylinder, and a port cooperating with said suction port, tandem plungers slidably mounted in said high and low pressure chambers, and means for reciprocating said sleeve valve and plungers, said reciprocating means also eifecting a relative reciprocation of said sleeve valve and plungers.

10. In a force feed oiler, the combination of a cylinder having a suction port, a sight feed well, a by-pass duct, a supply duct from said cylinder to said well, a delivery duct from said well to said cylinder, a discharge duct from said cylinder to the oil distribution line, a sleeve valve slidably mounted in said cylinder, said sleeve valve having high and low pressure chambers, a port in said high pressure chamber cooperating with said delivery and discharge ducts, a pair of ports in said .low pressure chamber cooperating with said by-pass and supply ducts, respectively, and a port in said low pressure chamber, cooperating with said suction port, tandem plungers slidably mounted in said high and low pressure chambers, and means for reciprocating said sleeve valve and lungers, said reciprocating means also e ecting :a relative reciprocation of said sleeve valve and plungers.

11. In a force feed oiler, the combination of a cylinder having a suction port, a sight feed well, a by-pass duct, a supply'duct from said cylinder to said well, a delivery duct from said well to said cylinder, a discharge duct from* said cylinder to the oil distribution line, a sleeve valve slidably mounted in said cylinder, said sleeve valve having'high and low pressure chambers, a port in said high pressure chamber cooperating with said delivery and discharge ducts, a pair of ports in. said low pressure chamber cooperating with said by-pass and supply ducts, respectively, and a port in said lowpressure chamber cooperating with said suction port, tandem plungers slidably mounted in said high and low pressure chambers, and means for reciprocating said sleeve valve and plungers, said reciprocating means effecting simultaneous equal movements, in each direction, of said sleeve valve and plungers to first efiect registration of said ports and ducts, and then a furtherlmovement of said plungers to effect the suction and forcing of the oil.

LOUIS E. GODFRIAUX. 

